Desperate Anglo Housewives : Bordeaux > she's back and dating in her 50s

Ahh, bliss, no children, husband has gone sailing....but I do have a "must do" and its NOT the ironing! If you have nothing to do today and a case of Sunday-itis get yourself down to Rue Notre Dame in the Chartrons (Tram stop CAPC or Paul Doumer). Rue Notre Dame is one street back from the quayside and is the heart of the antiques quarter. It is full of antique shops of all sizes and quality. It is a wonderful place to poke around, bargain hunt or chiner as the french say. Its not cheap but I have noticed that an offer of cash can break down an asking price. Today Rue Notre Dame and its Brocantes  are celebrating the Vin Nouveau/Le Bourru. By this afternoon it will be teaming with people, jazz musicians, bargain hunters and all this in a cloud of roasting chestnuts and new wine. Go down there and drink in the atmosphere, taste the bourru with a cornet of hot roasted chestnuts. What better way to herald autumn...

Getting the hang of shopping here..... Its not as if I've ever objected to shopping. Admittedly its one of my favourite things. No, let me say that another way...I LOVE a bargain, I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! This could be directly related to the litres and litres of Scots blood flowing through my veins, it could be because of the global crisis, maybe its my instrinsic sense of not over-spending ( ha!))...nah, its none of those things. The real reason for my bargain, good deal, value for money attitude stems from something much more simple.....I got divorced. In France..... Divorced, alien/stranger, mother of two children under 7, no family for 15 000kms, full time teacher but as a "vacataire" /contract teacher only so no salary ( no guaranteed work for any more than a week long period....oh hello, and not talking about 40 hours here!!!), new to Bordeaux so no network, and of course, the major missing ingredient of barely any girlfriends to cry over, scrounge off, have d...